Kültepe-Kanesh
Kültepe · Kanesh · Nesa · Karum Kanesh
EB to Roman (c.3000 BCE–200 CE; karum 2100–1700 BCE, 22k tablets)·Anatolian → Old Assyrian karum (kārum) → Hittite Kanesh·🇹🇷 Kayseri Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey
About
About Kültepe-Kanesh
Kültepe is ancient Kanesh/Nesa — the Assyrian merchant colony (karum) with 22,000 Old Assyrian cuneiform tablets (largest OB archive) documenting bronze–silver trade, sealed in Warshama palace burn c.1836 BCE. Tahsin Özguç excavations revealed karum merchant houses with sealings and the mound palace. Origin of Hittite history ('Nesa'). UNESCO tentative 2014.
Why it mattersLargest Old Assyrian archive; karum trade model; Hittite origin Nesa.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Karum house ownership?
Theories
- 01Karum long-distance value chain
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.3000 BCE
- Period
- EB to Roman (c.3000 BCE–200 CE; karum 2100–1700 BCE, 22k tablets)
- Culture
- Anatolian → Old Assyrian karum (kārum) → Hittite Kanesh
- Builders
- Old Assyrian merchants; Kanesh kings (Warshama)
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.200 CE (Roman village)
- Rediscovered
- 1881 (Ernest Chantre) / 1925 (T. Ozguç)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.2100 BCE
Assyrian karum founded — karum trade (Assur–Kanesh)
c.1836 BCE
Warshama palace burn bakes 22k tablets
1925
Tahsin Özguç excavates karum
2014
UNESCO tentative Kanesh
On the ground
Structures & features
38.8500° N · 35.6300° E · 1050 m · 3 mapped features
Karum Merchant Houses (Level II Tablet Archive)
archiveOld Assyrian karum insulae with 22,000 tablets, sealings and merchant contracts
38.8504° N · 35.6302° EWarshama Palace on Mound (Level Ib)
palaceAnatolian palace burnt 1836 BCE baking tablets; orthostat gate
38.8497° N · 35.6303° EAnitta Text Findspot (First Hittite)
archivePalace where Anitta text ( earliest Hittite) found — 'Nesa' origin
38.8505° N · 35.6296° E